10-38
Fronteer Gold Inc. (FRG - TSX/NYSE Amex) announces
financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010
and provides a brief update on our gold projects and corporate activities.
All amounts are in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise stated.
"Fronteer Gold continues to demonstrate its
commitment to becoming a significant gold producer in Nevada," says Fronteer Gold President and CEO Mark O'Dea.
"We have consolidated ownership of our flagship Long Canyon project, a
high-quality gold asset with significant growth potential, and acquired
additional surface and water rights that should help speed the completion
of development activities. Newmont has expanded its work-program at our
Sandman project and we have commenced construction of an underground
decline at our Northumberland project. We also continue to complete
transactions that help maintain our strong treasury and leave us well
positioned to advance our key gold projects toward production."
HIGHLIGHTS
- Cash
and short-term deposits at September 30, 2010, totaled $163.1 million,
up 10.7% from $147.3 million at December 31, 2009.
- Completed
the acquisition of AuEx Ventures Inc. on November 1, 2010,
consolidating ownership of our flagship Long Canyon project and
creating a dominant position in the Pequop Gold District. On August
30, we announced Fronteer Gold had entered into an agreement to
acquire 100% of the outstanding common shares of AuEx by way of a plan
of arrangement.
- Continued
advancing our three key gold projects in Nevada, with the following
highlights:
- At Long Canyon, our drilling program continued to intersect wide
intervals of high-grade oxide gold. In addition, we completed the
purchase of the Big Springs Ranch which secured additional surface and
water rights. Environmental, engineering and metallurgical studies are
all underway.
- At Sandman, drilling at the North Hill deposit has returned multiple
intervals of near-surface oxide gold and a new property-wide
exploration drill program is underway with assay results expected in
fourth quarter. Newmont is three months into its final year of a
three-year earn-in agreement.
- At Northumberland, J.S. Redpath Corp. was contracted to construct a
280-metre long decline to access high-grade mineralization within the
deposit. Construction is underway with completion targeted for early
2011. Drilling completed in the third quarter further defined and
extended near-surface high-grade gold mineralization.
- Completed,
or are in negotiations on, several transactions that strengthen our
ability to fund advancement of our key gold projects, while
maintaining ongoing exposure to exploration upside through retained
interests and shareholdings, including:
- In October, entered into a definitive agreement to sell 10 gold
properties, derived principally from Fronteer Gold's $4.8 million
purchase of the Nevada Eagle portfolio, to Bridgeport Ventures Inc.
Bridgeport issued an aggregate of 4.5 million common shares as
consideration for the sale, valued at $5.6 million (as at close of
trading on October 22, 2010)
- Reported
646.5-metres of continuous copper-gold mineralization, the longest
interval to date at our Halilaga porphyry project in Turkey.
Additional drilling to expand and better define this early-stage
porphyry deposit is underway with additional results to be reported in
the fourth quarter;
- Received
the second draft of the Land Use Plan for the Labrador Inuit
Settlement Area, in which our Michelin project is located, that
stipulates mining is a permitted discretionary use, pending
an environmental assessment and government approval. The first
draft of the Environmental Protection legislation has also been
released and is consistent with existing federal and provincial
environmental legislation. Discussions continue with potential partners
for the financing and development of the Michelin Project.
100%
CONSOLIDATION OF FLAGSHIP PROJECT
On November 2, we announced the successful completion of our
acquisition of AuEx Ventures, consolidating ownership of our flagship Long
Canyon project, a high-quality gold asset, and creating a dominant position
in the Pequop Gold District. Fronteer Gold acquired an additional 49%
interest in Long Canyon to own 100%, through the acquisition of 100% of the
issued and outstanding shares of AuEx, Fronteer Gold's prior partner. With
this acquisition, Fronteer Gold also acquired AuEx's 49% interest in the
Pequop District's West Pequop project and their interest in the South
Pequop project. AuEx shareholders received 0.645 of a Fronteer Gold share,
$0.66 in cash and 0.5 of a share in a new exploration company for each AuEx
share, for a total cost of $267.6 million. In addition, each AuEx
shareholder received 0.5 shares of Renaissance Exploration Inc. a company
formed to hold the assets of AuEx not acquired by Fronteer Gold. Fronteer
Gold acquired a 9.9% interest in Renaissance at an additional cost of $4.7
million.
UPDATE ON NEVADA DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Fronteer Gold continued to make progress on its
key gold development projects in the first quarter of 2010.
Long Canyon, Nevada, USA
Long Canyon
is a high-grade gold deposit that remains open in multiple directions. Our
goal is to move the project to the pre-feasibility stage as soon as
possible. Total project expenditures for the first three quarters of 2010
were $14.0 million, of which $7.0 million were attributable to Fronteer
Gold, net of joint venture recoveries. Approximately 54,000 metres were
drilled during the first three quarters of 2010, as part of an expanded
70,000-metre program for the year. Up to six rigs will now operate on site
through December. An additional 10,000 metres are planned from December
through to April. In the third quarter, Fronteer Gold continued to
intersect numerous broad intervals of high-grade oxide gold to the northern
extension of the deposit, demonstrating the potential for resource growth
and enhanced project scope. Four, 15-ton surface bulk samples and one
three-ton large-diametre core sample were also collected in the third
quarter for large-column metallurgical testing. Run-of-mine, heap-leach
conditions will be simulated. Engineering, mine design studies and
permitting work continue. During the third quarter, Fronteer Gold completed
the purchase of the Big Springs Ranch ("BSR") for US$12 million
(our share US$6.12 million). The acquisition included the purchase of
approximately 37,540 acres of surface rights, nearly all of the water
rights appurtenant to the ranch, mineral rights owned by BSR, and dwellings
and improvements on the ranch. This purchase provides the project with
additional surface and water rights that should help speed the completion
of development activities.
Sandman, Nevada, USA
Sandman is a high-grade epithermal gold system
under option to Newmont USA Ltd. Our joint venture partner is
undertaking a US$3 million exploration and development program focusing on
the four known gold deposits as well as conducting a property-wide
exploration program. As of September 30, 2010, Newmont has spent
approximately US$12.8 million at Sandman. Newmont must spend an additional
US$1.2 million by June of 2011 in order to fulfill the expenditure
requirement of its earn-in obligation. In addition, Newmont must also make
a production decision by June 2011. In the third quarter, activities at
Sandman extended well beyond previous in-fill drill programs at the
Southeast Pediment and Silica Ridge gold deposits. Newmont completed its
Phase 1 development drill program at North Hill. Drill results from North
Hill continue to highlight near-surface, high-grade oxide gold mineralization,
demonstrating the strength of this mineralized system. Newmont also drilled
a monitoring well to begin collecting hydrological data for the deposit
area. Newmont has also completed 33 holes (5,624 metres) of a 53-hole
(9,000 metre) property-wide exploration drill program at Sandman. Newmont
is drill testing up to eight new high-priority targets. At both Silica
Ridge and Southeast Pediment, drill programs of more than 70 holes are
planned, four column tests are near completion, and waste rock characterization
and geotechnical evaluation are in progress.
Northumberland, Nevada, USA
Northumberland is a large Carlin-type gold deposit located on
private lands owned by Fronteer Gold. For the first three quarters of 2010,
we spent $3.7 million at Northumberland. The budget for Northumberland for
2010 has been increased from an initial $4.4 million to approximately $8.6
million to accelerate the project timeline. Our goal is to advance the
project as a combined open-pit and underground mine. We aim to selectively
mine the higher-grade underground sulphide resource, and mine oxide and
transitional material in open pit. Drilling in third quarter clearly
demonstrates the presence of high-grade domains at Northumberland. Results
from 2010 drilling have returned some of the highest grade gold intervals
ever intersected at this project. Construction of a 280-metre decline to
access high-grade mineralization within the deposit commenced in Q3 with
completion targeted for early 2011. The decline provides: the most cost-effective
method for evaluating controls on high-grade mineralization; access to
extraction of bulk samples for metallurgical testing and pilot testing at
third-party processing facilities; and an easy transition from exploration
to production. In the third quarter, we continued metallurgical work to
optimize recoveries and minimize capital and operating costs, as well as
ongoing engineering and mining studies. Upon completion of underground
development activities, we plan on completing a Preliminary Economic
Assessment.
OTHER PROJECTS
Halilaga, Turkey
Beyond Nevada, our top exploration priority is Halilaga in Turkey.
Our 40% share of the Phase I costs are approximately $1.1 million of which
approximately $1.0 million has been spent. In the third quarter, drilling
returned the longest interval of continuous copper-gold mineralization ever
intersected at Halilaga's Central Zone: 0.26 g/t gold and 0.33% copper over
646.50 metres starting from surface. Based on the success of this
significant hole, the drill plan was modified and an additional core rig
added to the program, for a total of three core rigs. Additional drilling
in October continues to report grades and widths similar to other
significant bulk-tonnage copper-gold deposits. We anticipate completing a project
first resource estimate by year-end, assuming sufficient drilling has been
completed.
Michelin, Labrador, Canada
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we spent at total of
$2.4 million on the Michelin project. For 2010, we have a development
budget of $3.3 million which will focus on finalizing tailings management
options, infrastructure design studies, ongoing environmental baseline
studies and continuing community consultation. In the third quarter,
the Nunatsiavut government released a revised draft Land Use Plan
("LUP") that stipulates mining is a permitted discretionary
use, pending an environmental assessment and government
approval, on lands where the Michelin Project is located. Also in the third
quarter, the first draft of the Environmental Protection legislation was
released and is consistent with existing federal and provincial
environmental legislation. The restriction on actual uranium mining is
anticipated to be removed on, or around, March 2011, the timeline the
Nunatsiavut government has set to ratify the LUP and complete its
environmental legislation. Aurora has undertaken an extensive
community engagement initiative to build understanding around mining and
the benefits communities can expect to derive from the Michelin Project.
Responses to these community initiatives have been very positive, with high
attendance and growing interest. Fronteer Gold and Aurora continue to
investigate a number of alternatives for financing and developing the
Michelin Project.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected financial data are derived
from our financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2010
and 2009.
(Expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars,
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Nine months ended September 30,
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except per share amounts)
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2010
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2009
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Net income (loss) for the period
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(12,852)
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7,923
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Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share
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(0.11)
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0.07
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Cash invested in mineral properties, net of
joint venture recoveries
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14,105
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10,942
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Cash provided by financing activities
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2,794
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227
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(Expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)
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As at
|
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September 30, 2010
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December 31, 2009
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Cash, cash equivalents and short-term deposits
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163,143
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147,901
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Working capital
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160,881
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144,493
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Total assets
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510,966
|
521,184
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Long term liabilities
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41,142
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51,438
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Shareholders' equity
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464,908
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464,927
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For the three and nine months ended September 30,
2010, we lost $21.2 million or $0.18 per share and $12.9 million, or $0.11
per share, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30,
2009, we earned $11.9 million or $0.10 per share and $8.0 million, or $0.07
per share, respectively. Contributing to the change year over year
was a writedown of $33.7 million in the third quarter of 2010 on the
Company's Zaca project which offset the net $18.8 million gain on the sale
of the Agi Dagi and Kirazli projects in the first quarter of 2010 and an
increase in certain operating expenses. In addition the Company
recognized a FX gain of $6.0 million in 2009 compared to a $1.0 million FX
gain in 2010, and a gain on sale of long term investments in 2009 of $9.3
million compared to a loss of $0.4 million in 2010. Due primarily to
the writedown of the Zaca project the Company recognized a future tax
recovery of $15.7 million in 2010 compared to a recovery of $4.3 million in
2009.
This press release should be read in conjunction with our unaudited
consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis
as at September 30, 2010. These documents can be found on our website
(http://www.fronteergroup.com/) and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at
www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. Shareholders may receive a copy of the complete
unaudited financial statements free of charge upon request.
ABOUT FRONTEER
GOLD
We intend to become a significant gold producer. Our financial
strength and solid operational team give us the ability to advance our key
gold projects to production. Our future potential production platform
includes our Long Canyon, Sandman and Northumberland projects - all located
in Nevada, one of the friendliest gold-mining jurisdictions in the world.
Additionally, we have 100% ownership of Aurora Energy Resources Inc,
developer of one of the world's largest uranium deposits, based in
Labrador, Canada. For further information on Fronteer Gold visit
www.fronteergold.com or contact:
Mark
O'Dea, President & CEO
Patrick Reid, Senior Director, Institutional Marketing
Glen Edwards, Director, Communications
Phone 604-632-4677 or Toll Free 1-877-632-4677
info@fronteergold.com
Except
for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information
presented constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, those
with respect to potential expansion of mineralization, potential size of
mineralized zone, timing of exploration and development programs and size
of exploration, development and general and administrative budgets involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause
the actual results, performance or achievement of Fronteer Gold to be
materially different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors
include, among others, risks related to international operations and joint
ventures , the actual results of current exploration activities,
conclusions of economic evaluations, uncertainty in the estimation of ore
reserves and mineral resources, changes in project parameters as plans
continue to be refined, future prices of gold and silver, environmental
risks and hazards, increased infrastructure and/or operating costs, ability
to raise financing, labor and employment matters, and government regulation
and permitting requirements as well as those factors discussed in the
section entitled "Risk Factors" in Fronteer Gold's Annual
Information form and Fronteer Gold's latest Form 40-F on file with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C.
Although Fronteer Gold has attempted to identify important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors
that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There
can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as
actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Fronteer Gold disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, readers
should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
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